Degrassi transforms York's Keele campus into a television set

Now in production on its seventh season, the hit Canadian television series "Degrassi: The Next Generation" made its way to York's Keele campus last week. The cast and crew were on campus Aug. 1 filming a two-part "Spring Break" episode.

The episode, which will air in January 2008, features a special concert that Degrassi students go to during their spring break from school. Also featured in this episode is iconic Canadian actress Shirley Douglas.

Right: From York U to Smithdale U, branding preserved

For the filming, York’s Keele campus was transformed into Smithdale University. Douglas plays the role of the head of a theatre college at Smithdale that one of the Degrassi characters has applied to. Several scenes for the two-part episode were filmed at locations on the Keele campus, including the Science & Engineering Building, Campus Walk and Accolade. The Underground Restaurant provided a rest facility for the cast and crew.

Left: Crew trucks line the laneway adjacent to the Farquharson Life Sciences Building

The show has its own connections with York. Writer and story editor James Hurst is an alum (BFA '92), and his wife, Shelley Scarrow (BFA '94), was also a Degrassi writer for several years (see YorkU, February 2007). Moreover, prominent cast member Stacey Farber did her first year of university at York in 2005-2006.